Apr 16, Colombo: The Central Environmental Authority says that the Muthurajawela Sanctuary can be handed over to the Wildlife Conservation Department before the end of this year.

Central Environmental Authority Chairman Chandrarathne Pallegama told the Lankadeepa that the lands belonging to the wetland sacturay have been identified.

Pallegama said preliminary discussions were held with the relevant state authorities including the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Land Department, Survey Department and the Department of Forest Conservation.

Since the Muthurajawela sanctuary land extends into Wattala, Negombo, Katana and Ja-Ela Divisional Secretariats, the relevant Divisional Secretaries also visited participated in the discussions, Pallegama said.

The Chairman said once the lands are identified, measures will be taken to declare them as a wildlife zone. He added that the attention has been focuses on a scheme to pay compensation to the permanent dwellers in the zone.

The Chairman said that measures have been taken to hand over the Muthurajawela sanctuary extending 3164 hectares to the Department of Wildlife Conservation since the Central environment Authority does not have adequate resources and man power to protect the Sanctuary from the people and groups damaging the sanctuary.